A documentary about the search for belonging, told through the voices of Dora Oyèmi Hessou, Douglas Labigalini, and Jimena Iris Rabinovich Gioffreddo. Each shares unique experiences of identity and home, from life between cultures to personal loss and resilience. The film invites viewers to reflect on “othering” and opens an intimate dialogue about what it means to feel at home.
“My Name Is Ausländer” is an intimate documentary exploring the complex meaning of “home” and the phenomenon of “othering” in Germany. Through candid conversations and personal stories, the film centers on three very different voices whose experiences intersect around identity, migration, and belonging.
Dora Oyèmi Hessou, born and raised in the former East Germany with roots in Benin, shares her perspective of growing up as a Black German within a culture that often questioned her Germanness. Her narrative unfolds between memories of childhood, reflections on home, and the tension of being constantly perceived as “other.” Through Dora, the audience witnesses both the challenges and the small victories of carving out a space to belong.
Douglas Labigalini, originally from Brazil, arrives in Germany only to endure the devastating loss of his mother. Facing solitude and grief in a foreign land, Douglas learns to redefine what “home” means—drawing on resilience, friendship, and a search for meaningful connections. His story is one of overcoming trauma, adapting to a new country, and wrestling with the invisible boundaries that separate “insiders” from “outsiders.”
Jimena Iris Rabinovich Gioffreddo approaches the concept in a lighter, almost spiritual way. With humor and introspection, Jimena’s reflections offer relief from the heaviness of migration stories, inviting viewers to question societal norms and to embrace the idea that belonging can exist beyond borders or definitions. Her contribution helps the film navigate between moments of comedy and profundity.
“My Name Is Ausländer” does not seek easy answers. Instead, it opens a conversational space—bridging perspectives and emotions, confronting prejudice and fostering empathy. The camera acts as a witness, observing the subtle gestures and words that reveal what it means to live as “the other” in Germany. Through its honest, close-up portraiture, the documentary calls German audiences to reflect on experiences they may not have faced themselves, encouraging dialogue, understanding, and inclusion.
At its heart, the film is both a personal journey and a universal inquiry: How do we belong? What does “home” mean when boundaries shift and identities overlap? “My Name Is Ausländer” invites us all to reconsider the simple act of seeing and listening to people whose stories are too often marginalized—and, in doing so, uncovers the possibility of a broader, more compassionate German society.
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Credits: Director, Screenplay and Cinematography – Giovanna Wolney Editing – Giovanna Wolney Production – Giovanna Wolney Sound design – Thiago Franzim & Eleanor Loftie Interviewees – Dora Oyèmi Hessou – Douglas Labigalini – Jimena Iris Rabinovich Gioffreddo Special thanks to – Andreas Ingerl – Manuela Garcia Domingues – Aline Xavier
